Telegraph-key.



PATENTED SEPT. 4, 1906.

J. T.. SHEETS. TELEGRAPH KEY.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 9. 1905.

q/vdvmaaeo amm'q. a. awgmwx UNITED STATES PATEN T OFFICE- JESSE T. SHEETS, OF COVINGTON, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR OF ON E-HALF TO SOL. P. KINEON, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

TELEGRAPH-KEY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 4, 1906.

Application filed November 9, 1905. Serial No. 286,446.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Jnssn T. SHEETS, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Covington, county of Kenton, State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Telegraph- Keys, of which the following is a specificat1on.

The object of my invention is a telegraphkey by which the operator may open the circuit for sending messages simply by grasping the key, which automatically closes the circuit when released by the operator and which may be held in the position to keep the circuit open without interfering with the flexibility of the operators arm andwrist while sending messages. This object is attained by the means described in the specification and illustrated in the drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view. Fig. 2 is a View, partially in side elevation and partially in section, through one of the binding-posts and through the contact-point. Fig. 3 is a detail plan view of the contact-strip for putting the contact-point in contact with the bindingpost, which is insulated from the frame. Fig. 4 is a detail view, partly in plan and partly in section, of the button, lever, and spring-arm which is mounted on the lever. Fig. 5 is a perspective view, upon an enlarged scale, of the end of the spring-arm.

Referring to the arts, metallic frame A has the usual journa -bearings a a, between which the lever B is fulcrumed upon the frame. Binding-post C is in contact with the frame A, and binding-post C and contactpoint D are insulated from the frame. Binding-post C and contact-point D are electrically connected by a metallic strip E. Lever B is provided with the usual back-stop or limiting-screw b and coiled spring I) for holding the stud b on the lever normally out of contact with the contact-point D.

A shaft F, upon the outer end of which button f is secured, is journaled revolubly in the end of lever B and has an outwardly-projecting pin f. Secured to a stud 6 projecting downward from the under side of lever B, is a spring-arm G, whose outer end 9 is curved inward adjacent to shaft F and has a slot g, through which pin f passes, the extreme end of the lever G having a finger g to contact a stud b projecting upward from the lever B. Springarm G has a tendency to stand in contact with a regulating-screw d, which passes through binding-post D. By rotating the shaft F by turning the button f the pin f will carry the arm G out of contact with the screw (Z. hen the button f is released, the elasticity of the arm G returns the button to its normal position, as shown in Fig. l, bringing the arm G into contact with the screw (1.

In use it is seen that when the parts stand in their normal position (that shown in Fig. 1, wherein the arm G contacts screw d) lever B is in electrical communication with binding-post C through the arm G, screw d, contact-point D, and strip E. It is seen likewise that by rotating the button f to cause pin f to carry arm G out of contact withthe screw (Z the circuit is broken and is closed only when the lever B is depressed to bring the stud b in contact with the contact-point D in the manner customary for sending messages and that when the operator releases button fthe spring G automatically resumes its normal position against the screw (1 to close the circuit.

The motion necessary to rotate the button f to open the circuit, is very simple and the grip upon the button necessary to hold it in the position such that the pin f keeps the spring G out of contact with the screw (1 is so slight and of such a character that it interferes in no respect with the flexibility of the arm of the operator in sending messages.

What I claimis- 1. In a telegraph-key the combination of a frame, a contact-point and a binding-post insulated therefrom, an electrical conductor connecting the contact-point and said binding-post, a main lever j ournaled in the frame, a button mounted revolubly on the lever, a spring-arm secured at one of its ends to the lever standing normally in contact with the contact-point and having its free end adjacent to the button and means for coupling the button and the spring-arm whereby the rotation of the button carries the spring-arm out of contact with the contactpoint.

2. In a telegraph-key the combination of a frame, a main lever mounted therein, a contact-point and a binding-post insulated from the frame, a conductor connecting the binding-post and the contact-point, a button mounted revolubly on the lever, a springarm secured at one end to the lever, a regulating-screw passing through the contactpoint and normally contacting the springarrn, a pin projecting from the button and engaging the free end of the spring-arm whereby the revolution of the button throws the spring-arm out of contact with the regulating-screw.

3. In a telegraph-key of the character described a lever having a spindle mounted rev- 10 olubly at one end, a pin projecting out wardly from the spindle, a stud projecting upwardly from the lever in the ath of the pin, a spring-arm secured to the ever at one end and at the other end bent inward to engage the stud and slotted to pass the pin.

JESSE T. SHEETS.

Witnesses:

SOL. P. KINEON, WALTER F. MURRAY. 

